Fatty acid profiles from forty‐nine plant species that are potential new sources of γ‐linolenic acid

• Published in: Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society 2001-07, Vol.78 (7), p.677-684
• Main Authors: GUIL-GUERRERO, J. L, GARCIA MAROTO, F. F, GIMENEZ GIMENEZ, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; Biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Biology; Boraginaceae; Fatty acids; Food industries; Fruit and vegetable industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Lipids; Microorganisms; multivariate data analysis; Oils and fats; Onagraceae; Other biological molecules; Plants (botany); Ranunculaceae; Scrophulariaceae; seed oil; stearidonic acid; γ‐linolenic acid
• ISSN: 0003-021X; 1558-9331
• DOI: 10.1007/s11746-001-0325-9

Forty‐nine plant species from Spain, belonging to the Boraginaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Onagraceae, and Ranunculaceae families, were surveyed in a search of new sources of γ‐linolenic acid (18∶3ω6, GLA). Fatty acid profiles from seeds, stems, roots, flowers and leaves were determined. GLA was detected mainly in seed and root tissues. High GLA amounts were found in seeds of Boraginaceae species, with a maximum of 20.25% of total fatty acids in Myosotis nemorosa. Within the Scrophulariaceae the highest GLA content (10.17%) was found in Scrophularia sciophila. Variable amounts of stearidonic acid, (18∶4ω3, SDA) were present in Boraginaceae species, ranging from 0.08% of total seed fatty acids in Anchusa azurea to 21.06% in Echium asperrimum. SDA was also very abundant in all organs of Asperugo procumbens. A multivariate analysis was performed using our results and those reported for other plant species belonging to the same families in order to investigate a possible correlation between the fatty acid profile and the genera within these families.